Video: How to celebrate leap year without hurting yourself

Francis Ma

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 27, 2008 at 4:16 PM

It’s a leap year, and you know what that means — lots of leaping. But haphazard leaping can be a risky business — it can cause knee injuries, mid-air collisions and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” moments. So we went to the experts for advice. We asked ballet dancers the important questions: How do you do it? How high can you get? And, fashion-wise, are leg warmers still out?

It’s a leap year, and you know what that means — lots of leaping.

But haphazard leaping can be a risky business — it can cause knee injuries, mid-air collisions and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” moments.

So we went to the experts for advice. We asked ballet dancers the important questions: How do you do it? How high can you get? And, fashion-wise, are leg warmers still out?

Currently, the Boston Ballet is staging “Romeo & Juliet,” a moving production that has garnered glowing reviews. But, more importantly, the show involves quite a bit of leaping.

James Whiteside is in his sixth season at Boston Ballet and one of the dancers in “Romeo & Juliet.” During a rehearsal last week, he explained the finer points of throwing your body into the air … gracefully.

“It’s all about physicality,” explains Whiteside. “You’re using all these different muscles you wouldn’t normally use every day. It takes years and years of training to get the technique.”

Whiteside explains there are different kinds of leaps, but they all start with your legs and a dancer’s “core.”

“That’s right here,” says Whiteside as he points to his abdomen. And when Whiteside lands, he makes sure not to just “clunk on the floor.” Everything has to be a fluid motion.

“When you’re in midair, it has to be picture perfect,” says Whiteside. “The image of the dancer is the most important thing in the leap.”

Alejandro Diaz, another dancer in “Romeo & Juliet,” agrees.

“A dancer has to make it seem that they are suspended in midair,” says Diaz. “That they will never come down.”

But how is a leap supposed to make you feel? It’s a tough question, but choreographer Sabrina Matthews gave it a shot.

“It depends on the ballet you’re watching,” says Matthews. “The bigger leaps can be suspenseful and exciting. I’ve been in an audience where a male dancer takes a risky jump and everyone gasps. And they make it look effortless at the same time.”

So welcome to the leap year. Sure, you may not be able to do a multiple spin off the ground, but maybe you can get started on that book or that album or take that trip you’ve always wanted to. After all, you’ve got an extra day. It’s time to defy gravity, throw yourself in, and make your audience gasp. Take that leap … and don’t forget about the landing.